Hydrogen production from methane autothermal reforming over CaTiO3, BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 supported nickel catalysts

Abstract

Nickel supported on perovskite supports were investigated in the autothermal reforming of methane. The catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, H2 temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), H2 chemisorption, dehydrogenation of cyclohexane model reaction and Raman spectroscopy. The alumina supported catalyst exhibited highest initial conversion and selectivity to H2, however it deactivated. All catalysts with perovskite support were very stable, with Ni/CaTiO3 and Ni/BaTiO3 converting over 70% of the methane. Due to carbon formation, Ni/SrTiO3 conversion was only 50%. Turnover frequency was higher on perovskite supported catalysts. Deactivated Ni/Al2O3 favored total oxidation of methane instead of methane reforming, however the selectivity of catalysts supported on perovskites remained stable.